I purchased my first 35mm film camera in 1979. Since then, I've owned a ton of equipment.
A few months ago I went on a bit of a shopping spree. I came across a few 35mm cameras and lenses at great prices, so I bought them. This is what I purchased:
- Pentax Spotmatic SP 500 w/55mm f2
- Minolta SRT 101 with a few primes
- Minolta Maxxum 7000 w/35-70 f4
- a few Canon FTb's
- Minolta SRT 200
- Konica T3 w/50mm f1.4
- Canon AE-1 with a few FD primes
- Another Canon FTb
- Minolta SRT 100
I'm sure I probably missed a camera or two, but these are the ones I remember off the top of my head.
I loaded the last two (FTb and SRT 100) with film to test them out. That was two months ago, and I still haven't finished the rolls of only 24 exposures each. I haven't found anything else to photograph with these last two cameras. The objective was to test them during their 30 day warranty period, but it's too late now. I'm stuck with them. The speeds and meters work in them, so worse case scenario they might require new foam seals. Hopefully the shutter curtains aren't sticky like my AE-1.
Unintended Consequences:
Here's the reason for my post. The fact that I haven't had "anything else to photograph" with the last two film cameras got me thinking; why do I need so many film cameras? Prior to this moment of realization, I went on another "shopping spree" and purchased three new lenses for my Sony A7c and A7iv (Sony 35mm f1.4 GM, Sony 50mm f1.8, and Sony 85mm f1.8). I briefly tested those three lenses when the arrived to make sure they were working properly and weren't decentered. I haven't gone out and "enjoyed them" yet.
The fact that I couldn't find anything to photograph with the last 12 frames of film with my two latest cameras has little to do with film vs digital. Proof is I couldn't find anything of interest to shoot with the 3 new Sony lenses I purchased either. I can justify my Sony purchases because I (hopefully) intend to use them for travel. Unfortunately, I won't be able to travel for the next 1.5 years due to work. As for my film equipment, I purchased those cameras and lenses because I came across them as great deals. They were all in mint, working condition at reasonable prices. I simply couldn't pass them up. I didn't "need" them, but I know they were great deals I couldn't pass up.
The question now is why. Why have all this gear? For that matter, why have any gear at all if all I shoot is the occasional travel vacation, or the occasional neighborhood birds? I haven't printed anything in 3 years. I have zero need for film at this time, and my current digital equipment (Canon R6II, Sony A7c, Sony A7iv, OM System OM-5) is more than enough for my needs.
So, the unintended consequence of having (yet scarcely using) my film cameras is that I now question why I even bother to have any cameras at all.
Anyone else experience any unintended consequences of using film cameras?
I don’t think this has anything to do with film. Seems to me you have lost interest in photography and use your wallet to try buying your way back into photography. A new toy might interest you for a little bit, but you have a fundamental issue with photography. Maybe you need a break away from photography…try some other hobby that might interest you. There is nothing that says you must be interested in photography…something else might be what you really need.
chez wrote:
I don’t think this has anything to do with film. Seems to me you have lost interest in photography and use your wallet to try buying your way back into photography. A new toy might interest you for a little bit, but you have a fundamental issue with photography. Maybe you need a break away from photography…try some other hobby that might interest you. There is nothing that says you must be interested in photography…something else might be what you really need.
This is no different than buying purses, or shoes that aren’t used. I just came out of a year where I had to 24/7 monitor my dying dog who couldn’t walk, had seizures and a wife that wouldn’t let her go. I purchased a crazy amount of camera gear. Not reasonable, not needed, but I had been selling gear for awhile and will continue selling. I just need to stay healthy long enough to use the new gear. Not everything that we do in life makes sense. Now, it is time to find photographic projects and use this to get away. Three weeks after my dog died, I used it as an excuse to take my wife to South Korea for her first visit. It also allowed me to use some of the new equipment. Oh.. and life is complicated…. So if it is a lull in your interest in photography then go with the flow and soon you will be out taking photos once again. Have fun …
bwcolor wrote:
This is no different than buying purses, or shoes that aren’t used. I just came out of a year where I had to 24/7 monitor my dying dog who couldn’t walk, had seizures and a wife that wouldn’t let her go. I purchased a crazy amount of camera gear. Not reasonable, not needed, but I had been selling gear for awhile and will continue selling. I just need to stay healthy long enough to use the new gear. Not everything that we do in life makes sense. Now, it is time to find photographic projects and use this to get away. Three weeks after my dog died, I used it as an excuse to take my wife to South Korea for her first visit. It also allowed me to use some of the new equipment. Oh.. and life is complicated…. So if it is a lull in your interest in photography then go with the flow and soon you will be out taking photos once again. Have fun …...Show more →
Sorry to hear about your dog. They are family, and their loss hurts the same.
You are right, life truly is complicated. I'm probably going to take a step back from photography for a bit. My new job has me working nights, so there's not much for me to photograph anyway in the 2 or 3 hours of daylight I get to see each day. Also, because it's a new job, I won't be eligible to take any time off for at least a year, so traveling is not an option.
Nothing wrong with taking a step back from photography. I grew up in a household of photographers so it's always been part of my life, but my passion for it has waxed and waned over the years. In the '80s I was obsessed with it (as I am now), but during most of the 90s I shot almost no photos, even when traveling overseas, because I felt I'd let the camera get in the way of my ability to experience places and people. Now I'm back into it, but I'm in a shakedown period when it comes to gear: I got rid of several cameras and lots of lenses earlier this year and will probably get rid of a few more in 2027. I've now spent enough time with my cameras and lenses to know which ones suit me and which ones don't.
I'm not attracted to cameras or lenses as objects; I'm attracted to them as tools that allow me to achieve a certain look or to be able to take certain kinds of photographs. I do think it's worth having a selection of cameras and lenses for different purposes and different kinds of photography, but there's not much point in duplication unless you love a camera so much that you want backups. In your case, for example, I'd at least get rid of two of the Minolta SRT's as they're all very similar.
